Research advances in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in lean individuals / 临床肝胆病杂志

The incidence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is continuously increasing in the world, and NAFLD is a major cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries such as the United States and may become the most common chronic liver disease in China in the future. NAFLD is often observed in the obese population; however, it is also commonly seen in lean individuals. This article summarizes the latest studies on lean NAFLD and elaborates on the following pathogeneses of this disease: the change in single nucleotide polymorphism is one of the predisposing factors for NAFLD in the lean population; the change of gut microbiota and sarcopenia may induce a variety of metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, insulin resistance, and iron metabolic disorders, and such metabolic disorders may promote the development of NAFLD; in addition, unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle may contribute to the accumulation of fat and increase the burden of the liver. The combined effect of these factors eventually lead to the development of NAFLD, but further studies are still needed to clarify the pathogenesis of lean NAFLD.

Diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy combined with BRAFV600E gene mutation detection in elderly patients with thyroid nodules / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy combined with BRAFV600E gene mutation detection in elderly patients with thyroid nodules.Methods A total of 168 elderly patients with thyroid nodules suspicious for malignancy on ultrasound from January 2017 to December 2017 at our hospital were enrolled in this study.Using color Doppler ultrasound,185 thyroid nodules were found.Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC)and BRAFV600E gene mutation detection were performed before surgery and the findings were compared with postoperative pathological results.The diagnostic value of single and combined detection of FNAC and BRAFV600E gene mutation was evaluated.Results Among 185 thyroid nodules,there were 146 malignant lesions including 137 papillary carcinomas and 9 follicular carcinomas,and 39 benign lesions including 31 cases of nodular goiter,5 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 3 cases of adenoma.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNAC were 79.5％,59.0％,75.1％,75.2％,and 45.6％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of BRAFV600E gene mutation detection were 78.1％,51.3 ％,72.4 ％,84.4 ％ and 51.2 ％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the combined detection were 93.4％,77.5％,86.2％,90.8％ and 53.4％,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the combined detection were higher than those of either method used alone (all P＜0.05).Conclusions For some thyroid nodules that cannot be unequivocally diagnosed as benign or malignant by FNAC,the combined detection of FNAC and BRAFV600E gene mutation can significantly improve the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of malignancy detection,differentiate between benign and malignant nodules,and help formulate operation plans and subsequent treatment.

Effects of serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf-activated long-chain non-coding RNA on apoptosis and autophagy in thyroid carcinoma cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To investigate the effect of serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF)-activated long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA-BANCR) on apoptosis and autophagy in thyroid carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanisms.
 Methods: RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA-BANCR in thyroid carcinoma and normal thyroid tissues. The association between lncRNA-BANCR and clinicopathological data was analyzed in patients with thyroid cancer. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the effect of lncRNA-BANCR on the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells. The effect of lncRNA-BANCR on the apoptosis of thyroid carcinoma cells was detected by flow cytometry. Transwell invasion assay was used to detect the effect of lncRNA-BANCR on the invasive ability of thyroid cancer cells. Western blot was used to detect the changes of autophagy proteins LC3-I and LC3-II after the lncRNA-BANCR expression was suppressed.
 Results: Compared with normal thyroid tissues, the expression level of lncRNA-BANCR in thyroid carcinoma tissues was elevated (P<0.05). The expression of lncRNA-BANCR was positively related to the pathological stage of thyroid carcinoma and the lymph node metastasis. Inhibition of lncRNA-BANCR expression attenuated the proliferation and invasion ability of thyroid cancer cells (both P<0.05); but the apoptosis was enhanced (P<0.05); the expression levels of autophagy protein LC3-I and LC3-II were also increased (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The expression level of lncRNA-BANCR affects the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells through modulation of autophagy behavior.

Correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and carpal tunnel syndrome in type 2 diabetes / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum 25-OH vitamin D3 (25-OHD3)levels and carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS)in type 2 diabetes.Methods Data from 102 patients with type 2 diabetes were collected,and patients were divided into a CTS group(n=29)and a non-CTS group(n=73)according to clinical symptoms,signs,and electrophysiological testing.Fasting venous blood was collected to assay serum 25-OHD3 levels that were compared between the two groups.The correlation between 25-OHD3 and clinical parameters for type 2 diabetes was analyzed.Results The incidence of vitamin D3 deficiency was 65.5％ (n=19)in the CTS group and 46.6％(n=34)in the non CTS group,and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =16.85,P＜0.01).Levels of 25-OHD3 were lower in the CTS group(14.13±4.91) μg/L than in the non-CTS group(17.08±3.35)μg/L(t =4.067,P ＜ 0.01).Levels of 25 OHD3 were negatively correlated with those of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)(r =-0.176,P =0.041)and the duration of diabetes(r=-0.29,P=0.01) Conclusions Low 25-OHD3 is a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome in type 2 diabetes and is negatively associated with the duration of diabetes and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The early diagnostic value of corneal laser confocal microscopy for small neuropathy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate the early diagnostic value of cornel confocal microscopy for the screening of small neuropathy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus.Methods In the prospective study,96 elderly patients with diabetes as study group and 46 patients with non-diabetes as the control group were continuously collected from our hospital endocrinology and ophthalmology out patients during May 2014 to February 2016.The 96 cases of type 2 diabetes were subdivided into 47 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)and 47 patients with nowdiabetic peripheral neuropathy(non DPN).Results The diabetes course was shorter in non-DPN group than in DPN group(P=0.000).The levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and urine albumin were lower in the nonDPN than in the DPN(P =0.072,0.007,respectively).The corneal nerve fiber density was lower in the DPN group than in NDPN group (P =0.000).Corneal nerve fiber density was higher in control group than in DPN and NDPN group.The differences in number of corneal nerve fibers showed no statistical significance between DPN and NDPN group (x2 =2.391,P =0.314).But the number of corneal nerve fibers was significant less in DPN and NDPN group than in control group(x2 =16.014,P =0.000).The negative correlation was found between the course of disease and corneal fibrous density by using single factor linear regression analysis.The number of corneal nerve fibers was lower in smoking group than in non-smoking group(P=0.003).The multiple linear regression analysis showed that duration of diabetes was a risk factor for diabetic neuropathy.Conclusions In some elderly diabetic patients with non-neuropathy,corneal nerve fiber density and number have been significantly decreased before nerve conductive velocity is reduced.Therefore,corneal confocal microscopy can be used to detect and diagnose small diabetic neuropathy in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation and regeneration of the Apocynum venetum / 生物工程学报

A system for the Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation and plant regeneration of A. venetum has been developed. The highest transformation frequency was 100%, achieved by using strain LBA9402 with root explants. The highest density of hairy roots reached 22 when root explants transformed by R1000 cultured in the dark. Adventitious shoots were obtained from profusely branched, fast-growing (type PBF) hairy roots, and the adventitious shoot induction frequency was 20%. Regenerated shoots rooted easily on hormone-free 1/2 MS solid medium in 2 weeks. Approximately 1/3 regenerated plants derived from hairy roots exhibited prolific roots with shortened internodes. Whereas other regenerated plants showed another phenotype: long intemodes, strong stems, and fleshy blades. However, all regenerated plants displayed a relatively fast development procedure and stronger than the aseptic seedlings. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses confirmed the hairy root lines and regenerated plants were induced by A. rhizogenes.