Fabrication of a paper strip for facile and rapid detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus via signal enhancement by copper polyhedral nanoshells.

The detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), which is a pathogen inducing fatal gastrointestinal disease in cattle, is becoming a momentous issue in the livestock farm. In that, BVDV is related to inapparent infection and various diseases with high transmissibility; it has also led to considerable economic losses. In this study, a simple dot-blotting method was devised to construct a rapid screening system for BVDV. Based on the BVDV-specific bioreceptors, it was anchored on the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to generate the seeding sites for signaling; then the signals were amplified by adopting the overgrowth of copper nano-polyhedral shells on AuNPs. The developed detection system shows a low detection limit of 4.4 copies per mL, and even this could be distinguished with naked eyes. These results indicate that the designed nanobiosensor possesses not only high sensitivity and selectivity but also potential usage on a point-of-care testing platform for BVDV.

The effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on the plasma concentrations of resistin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Resistin is a protein secreted from adipose tissue that is thought to play a role in insulin sensitivity. We examined the effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on the plasma resistin levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who showed poor glycemic control with glimepiride (4 mg/d) were randomized to rosiglitazone (4 mg/d) and metformin (500 mg bid) treatment groups. All subjects continued glimepiride treatment as well. The plasma concentrations of resistin were measured at baseline and at 6 months of treatment for both groups. The anthropometric parameters, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acids, and adiponectin concentrations were also measured. After 6 months of treatment, the reduction in plasma glucose levels was similar between the 2 groups. There were no significant changes in the lipid profiles of either group during the study period. The plasma resistin levels decreased in the rosiglitazone group (2.49 +/- 1.93 vs 1.95 +/- 1.59 ng/ml; P < .05) but increased in the metformin group (2.61 +/- 1.69 vs 5.13 +/- 2.81 ng/ml; P < .05). The plasma adiponectin concentrations were increased in the rosiglitazone group (2.91 +/- 1.46 vs 4.23 +/- 1.77 microg/ml; P < .05) but were unchanged in the metformin group. In summary, rosiglitazone treatment decreased the plasma resistin levels whereas metformin treatment increased them in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus showing poor glycemic control with sulfonylurea therapy. These results suggest that the observed changes in plasma resistin levels are not the consequences of improved insulin resistance, nor are they consequences of glycemic control. Considering the potential role of resistin in insulin resistance, decrease in resistin levels may contribute to improving insulin action with rosiglitazone treatment.

Plasma resistin concentrations measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a newly developed monoclonal antibody are elevated in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Resistin is an adipocyte-derived peptide that might play a role in obesity and insulin resistance. However, its role in humans is largely unclear. Although many studies have measured the expression of human resistin in tissues, the circulating concentrations of resistin and its relation to metabolic parameters in humans are unknown. We developed an ELISA for human resistin and measured plasma concentrations in aged individuals with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. To validate the results of plasma resistin concentrations in our subjects, plasma adiponectin concentrations were also determined, which were higher in nondiabetic subjects than in type 2 diabetic patients and correlated with the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Log-transformed plasma resistin concentrations (log-resistin) were higher in diabetic patients compared with normal individuals (0.50 +/- 0.39 vs. 0.28 +/- 0.51 ng/ml; P < 0.001), and this difference was significant after controlling for gender and body mass index. Log-resistin did not show a significant correlation with HOMA-IR, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, or total cholesterol. The plasma glucose concentration was an independent factor associated with log-resistin. In conclusion, plasma resistin concentrations are elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes, but are not associated with insulin resistance or obesity.