Cerebral Arterial Stiffness as Measured Based on the Pulse Wave Velocity Is Associated With Intracranial Artery Calcification in Patients With Acute Stroke

Background@#and Purpose By measuring a newly defined parameter, the carotid–cerebral pulse wave velocity (ccPWV), this study aimed to determine the association of intracranial artery calcification (IAC) with arterial stiffness as reflected by the pulse wave velocity between the carotid and middle cerebral arteries using transcranial Doppler sonography in patients with acute stroke. @*Methods@#We recruited 146 patients with ischemic stroke from our stroke center. Computed tomography of the head was used to assess the presence and severity of IAC. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using ccPWV. Data are presented as quartiles of ccPWV. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the independent relationship between ccPWV and IAC. @*Results@#The IAC prevalence increased with the ccPWV quartile, being 54%, 76%, 83%, and 89% for quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p<0.001) as did IAC scores, with median [interquartile range] values of 0 [0–2], 3 [2–4], 4 [2–5], and 5 [4–6], respectively (p<0.001). After additionally adjusting for age and hypertension, a significant correlation was only found between quartiles 3 and 4 of ccPWV and IAC scores. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the IAC scores was 1.78 (1.28–2.50) (p=0.001) in quartile 4 of ccPWV and 1.45 (1.07–1.95) (p=0.015) in quartile 3 compared with quartile 1. @*Conclusions@#We found that in patients with acute ischemic stroke, ccPWV was positively related to the degree of IAC. Future longitudinal cohort studies may help to identify the potential role of IAC in the progression of cerebral arterial stiffness.

Optimization of a fluorescent qPCR detection for RNA of SARS-CoV-2 / 生物工程学报

We optimized a fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay system for rapid and real time detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The results show that the lowest dilution of RNA samples used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA could reach 1/10 000 (the initial value is set as 10 ng/μL). Moreover, the cycle threshold (Ct) for samples of clinically diagnosed COVID-19 was lower than 35 or 40. The sensitivity of this method was satisfactory. The results were consistent with those of the COVID-19 detection kit on the market under the same conditions, but the number of cycles required was shortened by about 2. Therefore, the optimized assay developed in this study can be used in screening and early clinical diagnosis. Our work provides a tool to facilitate rapid clinical diagnosis of COVID-19.

Correlation of iron metabolism with some stress hormones and insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective@#To investigate the association of iron with stress hormones and insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).@*Methods@#Seventy-five pregnant women diagnosed as GDM during 24-28 weeks were collected from January to November 2015 in Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, and 75 normal pregnant women were used as control group. Blood glucose, insulin, stress hormones and iron metabolism related indexes were detected. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to evaluate insulin resistance, and the correlation of iron metabolism with stress hormones and insulin resistance was analyzed.@*Results@#Compared with control group, norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) levels were higher in GDM group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in cortisol level between two groups (P>0.05). Serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, and transferrin saturation levels were higher in GDM group than those in control group(all P<0.01). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that cortisol, E, and NE levels were positively correlated with SF level in GDM group (all P<0.05). Cortisol and E levels were positively correlated with transferrin saturation (both P<0.05). SF and transferrin saturation were positively correlated with HOMA-IR in two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#Iron overload may involve in dysfunction of stress adaptation and insulin resistance in patients with GDM. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 563-566)

The Experimental Rearch of Silkworm Cocoon/ Portulaca Oleracea on the Glucose and Lipid Metabolism to type 2 Diabetic Rats / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To approach the effect of Silkworm Cocoon,Portulaca oleracea on the glucose and lipid metabolism to type 2 Diabetic rats. Methods type 2 diabetic rat models induced by STZ were randomly divided into diabetes model group,Silkworm Cocoon group,Portulaca oleracea group,Silkworm Cocoon+Portulaca oleracea group,and normal contrast group,after eight weeks' intervention,We analyze blood glucose(GLU), triglyeeride(TG), SOD, GSH, MDA, calculate, the indexes of insulin resistance (HOMA-1R). Results compared with diabetes model group, the GLU in Silkworm Cocoon+Portulaca oleracea group decrease 53.3%(P<0.01) : The TG decrease 44.1%(P<0.05). the Homa-IR decrease groups has no statistic difference. Conclusion The mixture group can obviously improve the glucose and lipid metabolism、 relieve insulin resistance、 significantly increase antioxidatian、 decrease the products oflipid peroxide.